Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own creations.

Author's Note: Drawing inspiration from the episode 'A Rose for Everafter.' with Alyssa Milano guest starring as the woman who 'got away' from Castle.


Richard Castle was on the phone as he sat on a bench at the park, Tasha strapped to his chest as she happily gummed away at the padding of the baby pouch before her. His conversation over the line was put on hold for one moment when he pulled the handset back, rested it against his shoulder and called out loudly. 'Seb, don't throw sand.'

The little boy's hand froze in the air, a guilty look on his face at being caught. The sand trickled from his fingers as he met his father's eyes, deciding it best to obey.

Seb no doubt now moving onto another thing that he would most likely need to reprimand him for soon enough, Castle wrapped his call up with an 'I love you. See you soon.'

It was this comfortable image of Richard Castle reclining back on his bench under the tree eyes on the busy playground, that Kyra Blaine – now Kyra Robsen – chanced upon. 'Rick!' she exclaimed as she made her way over.

'Kyra!' replied her one time love, flying up from his seat, shocked to see the woman before him. He was running his eyes over her like he couldn't be certain she was actually there. 'How have you been?' he finally asked.

'Good,' smiled Kyra, nodding her head. 'Yourself?'

'Never better,' he replied with a nod of his own. 'Greg?'

'Great as well,' she said, awkwardness now settling upon them both as she crossed her arms over her chest. 'You here with your kids?' she asked, stating the obvious.

'Mm,' confirmed Castle, sparing a glance to the playground to check the status of his offspring, before he turned back. 'You got kids yourself?'

He saw the pain as he eyes clouded over. 'We're trying,' she said with a tight smile. 'It's a long process.'

'Gods, I'm sorry Kyra,' he said, stepping forward with an intent to rest a hand on her shoulder, but backing off at the last minute when he realised that such an action would thrust his own child into her face.

Not wanting to cause any more pain than she had no doubt already gone through, he instead stood uncertain. It was Kyra who pushed aside her personal grief and reached a finger to the baby at his chest. 'She's gorgeous,' she breathed as Tasha obediently grasped the probing digit, squeezing hard. 'What's her name?'

'Natasha,' said Castle proudly, running his hand over his baby girl's soft hair, pressing a kiss to her crown. 'Tasha for short.'

'And that boy has to be yours,' continued Kyra as she turned carefully, nodding to where four year old Sebastian was scrambling up the metal bars, followed closely by an impatient little girl. 'He looks just like you.'

'You think?' asked Castle delighted, his eyes on both.

Kyra's eyes were teasing as she turned back to him, her finger released by the drooling babe. 'So who's the unfortunate mother?' she questioned merrily.

'She almost got away, but I hung on,' he said wryly in reply.

'Are you talking about who I think you're talking about?' asked Kyra delighted.

'Depends on who you're talking about,' hedged Castle with a grin.

'How about a certain detective that is your muse?' teased Kyra. 'Another special KB – or is it KC now?'

Castle raised his left hand, showing a distinct lack of a ring. 'KB she still is. And she's my muse for a great many things,' he added seriously.

'Too much information,' laughed Kyra, covering her ears.

He was laughing too when his phone rang, interrupting their conversation.

Nodding his head in apology, Castle took a step back. Noting caller id, Castle flipped upon his mobile, kept it out of his daughter's grasp and held it to his ear. 'Greetings O Studious One,' he boomed in an exaggerated manner. 'To what do I owe this pleasure?'

All Kyra could hear was his end of the conversation. 'No, I'm not with Kate at the moment.'

'Is that all I am?' he retorted, faking offence. 'A switchboard for your rare calls home? Would you like to know where Grandma is too?'

Whatever the speaker on the other end said, Castle laughed. 'Love you too.'

'Talk soon.'

'Sorry about that,' apologised Castle as he repocketed his phone and faced the brunette once again.

'You have two daughters?' asked Kyra, unsure.

'I actually have three,' clarified the famous author, before his face crinkled in confusion. 'Didn't I ever tell you about Alexis?'

Kyra shook her head. 'First marriage might not have lasted, but I got a good little kid out of that.' He reached into his back jean pocket and emerged with his wallet.

When he pulled out a worn photo and offered it to her out of range of Tasha's grabbing hands, Kyra was surprised by the age of the girl smiling up at her. 'Not so little now, mind you,' he sighed. 'Alexis is off at college doing her dear old dad proud. You know what she's studying?' he asked rhetorically, somewhat incredulously. 'Psychology!'

'Well, she's got a good test case in you,' said Kyra gleefully.

'Why do I always fall in love with women who take every opportunity to take potshots at my ego?' lamented Castle dramatically.

As both processed what he had just said, silence fell.

Slight awkwardness reigned before another female offspring broke the silence. Shae made her presence known when she wrapped her arm around her father's jean-clad leg and looked upward, her once perfectly tied pigtails now askew, one such hair tie no doubt dug deep below a sandcastle somewhere.

'Daddy!' she called loudly. 'Thirsty ta!'

'Another one Rick?' asked a slightly shocked Kyra, looking at the little girl who had followed Castle's son up the playground ladder before, now claiming paternity.

'Trust me, we're done,' declared Castle with a laugh as he reached for the backpack on the bench, one hand on Tasha, the other pulling the required water bottle free.

As he squatted down at his daughter's level and uncapped the bottle for her, Kyra shifted on her feet, noting the time. 'Rick, it was great seeing you,' she said, clapping her hands together. 'But I need to go.'

When he stood up, his middle daughter running for her brother once again, he groaned. Pushing at his back, his other hand against his youngest daughter for counterbalance, he muttered under his breath. 'I'm getting too old for this.'

He saw no sympathy from her. 'All the best,' he said as a means of farewell.

'You too Rick,' replied Kyra warmly, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

A distance away, she turned back one last time to see the great Kate Beckett – the detective behind him now – heading toward her first love. She was talking on the phone and when she reached Rick and the kids, the mobile was passed down to the boy – she still didn't know his name – as she kissed him.

Wondering how different things might have been if her insistence for space hadn't been quite so, well, insistent all those years back, Kyra smiled ruefully. Checking her watch once again, she quickly continued on her way.

She knew one thing for certain though: h er heart would be happy if she didn't see him again for another five years.